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Higher Education Subcommittee

Tuesday, January 27, 2026·54m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Higher Education Subcommittee advanced five bills — including measures on religious accommodations, student-parent data collection, and museum governance — while continuing a special education transition counselor bill to 2027, tabling a controversial free tuition proposal for top-2% high school graduates, and tabling a bill capping mandatory fee increases at public universities.

Key Actions

·HB 131 – Religious Accommodations at Public UniversitiesPassed

+ 5 more actions

Controversies

HB 383 — Scope of the SCHEV exemption for agile-based courses

The bill patron sought a broad exemption covering Scrum, Kanban, and other agile-based methods, arguing Virginia businesses are at a competitive disadvantage relative to out-of-state and overseas competitors not regulated by SCHEV. Grace Guitar of the State Council of Higher Education countered that SCHEV prefers a narrowly tailored exemption specific to Scrum because that was what was studied under House Bill 1995, and that broader exemptions remove student protections.

+ 4 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“This bill makes radical changes to the ways in which we currently administer financial aid and the ways we compete for in state students.”

Caitlin Reed, James Madison University — Reed testified in opposition to HB 990's free tuition proposal for top-2% graduates, which was subsequently tabled by the subcommittee.

+ 3 more quotes

Votes

Report House Bill 131Passed
Report House Bill 383Passed
Report House Bill 401Passed
Continue House Bill 85 to 2027Passed
Report House Bill 427Passed
Lay House Bill 990 on the tableNo Vote
No (1)Delegate Garrett
Lay House Bill 436 on the tablePassed
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TranscriptPreview
Well, good afternoon, everyone. It is four o' clock on the dot. As the quorum is present, the subcommittee will come to order. The clerk will open the roll and members are asked to indicate their presence on the electronic voting system. The Clerk will close the roll. Welcome to the first meeting of the Higher Education Subcommittee. I have the distinct pleasure of serving as chair of the subcommittee before proceedings. With before proceeding with today's agenda, I would like to explain the ground rules. As chair, it's my duty to keep our order in decorum and ensure that the subcommittee operates effectively and efficiently. We may not always agree on the issues before us, but it's my hope that our discourse will remain civil and that we will work to ensure that the subcommittee is an atmosphere of cooperation and collaboration. All discussion will flow through the chair, and I ask everyone to use their request to speak button when they have questions or comments. I will recognize you in the order in which you are recognized in the system, and I will ask that you allow sufficient and equal time to hear from the public and allow…
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